.357 levergun noob questions

[AJMBLAZER]

Hello all. First time here but was recommended to talk to you guys by folks over on THR.us . Here I am. Not new to guns in general but haven't spent much time with lever guns. Dad never had any and I haven't either...yet. I know about as much about the current lever gun scene as I do about theoretical physics (not much...actually...maybe more about physics).

Thinking about a .357 lever gun for the wife. She's recoil sensitive and even my AK is too much for her. She's a great shot with my .22's so I'm thinking a pistol calibre rifle/carbine would be great for her. I have some questions about them if y'all wouldn't mind.

-I already have a few .38 Special revolvers but no .357 Magnums (yet). I hear most of the .357 lever guns will fire .38 but what, if any, are the issues with doing this?
I tend to favor the flat nosed lead and the old FBI SWC HP loads and those are what I have the most of. Also a fan of wadcutters. I don't want to end up having to specifically have rounds on hand for the rifle/carbine - IE it can't eat what my revolvers eat (other than .357 rounds of course).

-I'd like whatever we end up with to be quick handling and easy for her to use. I'd also like it to be reliable and strong so it could take a lifetime of blasting Buffalo Bore's high end .357 Mag rounds if I wanted to (not that I would but I like strength and reliability to the utmost degree in my guns). I'd also like the possibility of adding a scope. What guns am I describing?

-Lastly, and the catch always, I'm on a budget. I shoot my AK and my RIA 1911 .45 because I can't afford a SiG 550 or a high end Kimber. I appreciate good value in a gun but don't want to buy junk. What are the price ranges for these and what can I realistically find these for used and new?

Thanks in advance.

[Hobie]

I had to look twice at your post date. Coulda sworn we answered this one two weeks ago (and two-three weeks before that!). A common question for sure. I'm going to post a link or links to answer your question (and others in the future). Just give me a few minutes. .357 Mag in a Carbine

[2ndovc]

First of all..

Welcome to one of the friendliest places on the net!

Secondly,

.38 Specials in a levergun are pure pleasure to shoot provided the firearm of choice likes to feed them.

I had a Marlin that would not feed .38s at all. This was about a million years ago before I knew I could get that fixed.
I have a Rossi '92 that wouldn't feed .357s, but would chew up any .38 I put in it. I had it
worked over by one of this site's sponsers, Steve Young of Steve's Gunz. Now it has become
one of my favorite rifles and I tend to shoot a Lot more .38s than .357s but will shoot anything I can come up with.

the .38s kick a little harder than a .22 but it is still very light recoil. Plus LOTS of fun!

jb

[AJMBLAZER]

Thanks guys, good to hear. Do any of the sponsors sell these guns ready to go all "fluffed and buffed"?


I looked back a few pages before I posted this but didn't see much at all about the pistol calibre guns.

[AJMD429]

You'd be hard pressed to do better for a practical shooting carbine than a .357, and they're very available in the Marlin or Puma brands (Marlin if you want to scope it, Puma if you want stainless?). Ones with some dings are usually in the gun stores used section (probably traded for an AR or something) and even the new Pumas are pretty affordable, with the Marlins close behind. Brownings, Winchesters, and Henry's are pricier.

Ammo is cheap, brass lasts for many reloads, and you can reload them cheaply with even an $18 Lee tool if needed.

[rjohns94]

I would highly recommend the Rossi, model 92, slicked up by our own Steve or NKJ of Steve's Guns, one of our great Site Sponsors. Here is a couple pics of mine. MY FAVORITE and MOST USED rifle. I have built my arsenal around this caliber and this rifle. You just can't do better.

[Tycer]

Buy her one of Nate Kiowa Jones' slicked up Rossis. www.stevegunz.com
The Winchester 1892 action is awesome and designed for pistol calibers.

[crs]

Good recommendations, all - especially the part about being sure the rifle will feed both .38 and .357. My .357 rifle is an original M92 Winchester converted to .357 and it handles them well, but will not handle .38 at all. Getting a gun from a known source like Steve's Gunz is always a good idea.
PS I have had my 1892 for over 35 years and it is still very accurate and a blast to shoot. My wife shot her first buck with it and both kids covet it.

[Old Ironsights]

Yep, Steve Young will certainly "fluff & buff" one for you... provided you are willing to wait through his backlog. Good Men are Busy Men.

I bought my .357 from him all worked over. Best deal I ever did since I frighten metal when I grab a file.

[ceb]

A good .357 carbine is one of the best all around guns you can own, my Marlin cowboy is my most used centerfire levergun. Don't really know about .38spec in it, as I reload my own and put my loads up in .357 cases. But i have no reason to believe it wouldn't, and it is very accurate.

[txpete]

I bought a marlin thanks funny 1894C new in the box a few weeks back.it really like the 173 gr keith in 38 special +P brass.



another good bullet is the lee 158 gr RF in 357 starline brass.

.

now for the ugly stuff.out of the box my marlin wouldn't feed factory ammo period.some tinkering cleaning ect got my to work out.there is a list of people over at MO with the same problems and have had to send their 1894C back to the factory for repairs."IF" I was going to buy one of these rifle I would have some dummy rounds made up to make sure that the rifle would feed 38/357 ammo.of course I got flamed because I said marlin has a quaily control issues and they are letting some escape the factory in non fuctioning order.oh well the truth is the truth.if you send 500-550.00 on a rifle the thing should work out of the box .
just a heads up some of the "new" marlin 1894C's stink and buyer beware.

[Old Savage]

Ah'm likin' the pictures here boys. Great stuff. Marlin 1894C is fine in my book. I like that 92 OI has - know it has worked for him on deer. Almost bought a new 92 recently but it was snatched away by a new lady shooter who beat me to it. Seems she had gone out and shot one with a freind.

[2ndovc]

Here's my .357 that was worked over by Steve Young/ Steve's guns.


Like the other's have said it becomes an instant favorite. Mine needed an
action job and a new set of sights. Seems like this one is always close by.

I also tend to shoot .38 spls more often that the .357s due to the fact that I have a ton of .38 brass lying arond.


jb

[GonnePhishin]

txpete,

Any problems with leading of the barrel with these particular loads?

[El Chivo]

my first gun was a Marlin 1894c from the Big 5, it has the hardwood stock and so is cheaper than the regular Marlin. I think it's around $400 now, maybe cheaper at Wal Mart if you have one that sells guns.

It's quite heavy duty and accurate, and it would be a great gun for a woman as the length of the stock is fairly short.

Mine was a little rough out of the box but slicked itself up with use.

If you're serious about the budget that might be the cheapest.

[txpete]

none,zero .I used 9lb ww to 1 lb lino sized .358 and used magma red lube.both the 173 gr keith and the lee 158 gr rn feed fine a no leading.I also tried some 158 gr rem sp with 14.0 2400


it is a shooter.
pete

[AJMBLAZER]

Yep, Steve Young will certainly "fluff & buff" one for you... provided you are willing to wait through his backlog. Good Men are Busy Men.

I bought my .357 from him all worked over. Best deal I ever did since I frighten metal when I grab a file.

Now that's sexy. Stainless? You have a PM sir.


I'm on a budget but I'll save or dig around until I find something we like and that fits our needs best. I'm not afraid of used either, it's been over 5 years since I bought my last (and only) new gun.
Wallyworld up here unfortunately does not sell guns anymore. Ammo, but no guns.

[Bear 45/70]

For recoil sensitive people I recommend a good recoil pad. Either a Kickezz or my favorite , the Limbsaver. I like Limbsaver best because I can walk into their factory and pick up what I need. My youngest daughter has a bum right shoulder and the Limbsaver meant the difference between not shooting and shooting clear up to a 20 GA for trap shooting.

[Blaine]

Recoil on a .357?

[Hagler]

AJMBLAZER,

I am partial to Winchester/ Puma 92. Here is mine, on rangeday, many months ago:



I was wearing my Mickey Mouse ears, and I could not get a good cheekweld, so my groups were off.

Shawn

[cshold]

Still some sweet ones out there.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =125540042

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =125548238

[AJMBLAZER]

WOW...uhm...I bet it is a good gun but that first one cost as much as my last four guns combined...and then some...

[nemhed]

I for one love my Marlin 1894c. It would be the last firearm I would ever get rid of. I also have an 1894 in 44 mag. Both guns have been great straight from the factory, good ol' made in the USA, blue steel and walnut.

[pharmseller]

Here's my biased opinion:
I have a slicked-up pre-safety Rossi, a Marlin 1894C, a Winchester 94 Trapper, and a Browning 92. I prefer them, in this order:
Rossi. Eats everything, smoooooth, good value (pawnshop), handy, if/when I drop it I won't cry. So accurate it's boring.
Browning. Also very accurate, smooth, but does not like .38 Specials.
Marlin. Eats everything right out of the box, very simple, wears a low-power variable scope. A little stiff, but I'm working on that.
Winchester. Very handy, won't eat .38 Specials.

The bottom line is, it's tough to go wrong. Buy a gun from Steve.


Pharmseller